Soda-water apparatus



L. W. PUPPER.

S U T A R A P P A R E T A W A D 0 S (No Model.)

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UNTTED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUTHER W. PUFFER, OF LAKEVILLE PLANTATION, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN SODA FOUNTAIN COMPANY, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

SODA-WATER APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,881, dated March 2, 1897.

. Application filed Ju1y 24,1896. Serial No. 600,355. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUTHER W. PUFFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lakeville Plantation, in the county of Penobscot and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Soda-Water Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to soda-water fountains; and it consists in improvements in the construction of the syrup-jars with which said fountains are equipped, whereby the several jars may be drawn out and tilted forward in case it is desired to remove or return the jar to place or whenever it is necessaryto renew the contents.

My invention is embodied in the construction of the frame which holds the syrup-jar, whereby the entire device is adapted to be drawn in or out and inclined forward and so held; furthermore, in a cam-surfaced plate whereby the syrup-jar and frame are raised automatically when thrust home to place, thereby interlocking said frame with the soda-water fountain.

My improvements are likewise embodied in the construction of the frame which contains the jar proper and in the socket-case, which is made a part of the draft-cock.

The drawings represent, in Figure 1, a sectional elevation transversely of a soda-water fountain and showing a syrup-can embodying my invention in its usual position within the fountain. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a fountain with a syrup-can tilted forward for purposes of refilling or otherwise. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bottom of a syrup-can. Fig. lis a cross-section of the guides for the syrupcans on line 4 4 in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section of joint enlarged between syrup-can and its discharge-pipe.

In the accompanying drawings, 2 represents a part of the body portion of a sodawater fountain of ordinary construction and provided with an ice-chamber 3 and a can- 26, held in position by a sleeve-nut 27.

chamber 4. This latter consists of an open rectangular aperture extending the entire length of the fountain, said aperture being located in the front of the fountain and closed by a plurality of syru p-jars 5, grouped closely beside each other. These syrup-jars are of the tilting variety and comprise a metallic frame or casting 6, a draft-faucet 7, and a removable syrup-jar proper or reservoir 8, preferably of porcelain or glass, and which is interconnected with the faucet by a pipe 9.

By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the frame 6, by which the receptacle 8 is supported and partially inclosed, is made in one piece, either formed from a metallic sheet or cast of the requisite shape. This frame, U shape in horizontal cross-section, is secured to the metallic front plate 6 by bolts or otherwise, and in this way the construction is simplified and the cost reduced. It will be further observed that in order to simplify the construction of the faucet and to enable the receptacle to be readily interconnected with and disconnected from said faucet I have provided the cock with a straight length of pipe 9, before mentioned. This pipe is bent upward and terminates in a socket 9, which is positioned just beneath the discharge-orifice in the receptacle. In the present instance this orifice is in the form of a teat 25, which engages a rubber gasket The taper of the teat, combined with the yielding nature of the gasket, insures a tight union of the several parts, which are at the same time readily separable. Hence it will be seen that by placing the faucet in position means are provided for readily interconnecting the receptacle with the faucet, and no special apparatus in the shape of couplings, sleeves, or other analogous devices is necessary.

Myimprovements are embodied in the construction of the jar and its cooperating elements, whereby said jar may, when drawn out, be tilted forward or inclined at such an angle that the reservoir or can 8 may be readily removed or replaced in case it is broken and at the same time fresh syrup may be supplied without detaching or removing the syrup-jar from the fountain.

To carry out my improvements, it will be seen that the lower front edge portion of the syrup-chamber is provided with an upraised rail 10, which extends longitudinally the entire length of the chamber. A little to the rear and within the chamber and secured to the bottom are a plurality of short upright plates 12, which are positioned transversely of the rail and slope obliquely upward as they extend toward the back of the chamber. Moreover, these plates, which serve as guides or rails upon which the jars slide, are I-shaped in cross-section, and thus thelateral flanges, both top and bottom, respectively, 14 15, perform certain duties in guiding and supporting the syrup-jars. Furthermore, it will be seen that the frame 6 of the syrup-jar is fitted with two longitudinal plates 16, which are arranged to create outwardly-projecting lateral lips 17, which engage and interlock with the flanges 14 15. Thus it will be seen that when the jar is upright and is to be drawn in or out the lips 17 rest upon the lower flanges 15, which serve as guides and supports. Conversely, when the can is to be tilted and then moved in or out, the upper flanges 14 engage the lips 17, while the angle of inclination is determined by the obliquity in the position of the flanges 14,, which may be changed for different fountains.

To prevent the syrup-jar from becoming detached from the fountain when in a tilted or forwardly-inclined position, a transverse rib or stop 18 is fastened securely across the bottom and is adapted to engage the rail 10. Furthermore, a pendent lip 19, cam-shaped prominences 20, and a groove 21, intermediate between said lip and cam, serve to lock and bring the syrup-jar into its proper position every time it is thrust back into the chamber designed to receive it. These several elements act as follows: Presume that the can is in the position in Fig. 2, that is, inclined or tilted forward, when it is prevented from sliding outward by the rib or stop 18 and the engagement of the lips 17 against the upper flanges 14. The syrup-jar is now to be pushed back into place within the chamber. the guides or lips 17 rest upon the lower flanges 15. This rearward movement continues until the cam prominences 2O strike the rail 10. By means of said cam the syrupjar is raised at its front end until the jar has been lifted into its proper position, the pendent lip contacting against the front of the rail, and the top edge of the latter entering the groove 21. Thus the proper position of the syrup-jar with respect to the fountain and the fountainchambers is automatically and positively de- The front end is raised untiltermined every time the jar is returned to place.

In the drawings it will be seen that the icechamber 3 is directly in the rear of the syrupjar chamber. In order to allow the cool air from the ice to circulate freely about the cans, I have apertured the dividing-partition at 23, while to prevent the ice-cakes from falling against the syrup-jars and thereby breaking or injuring them I secure a wire-netting 24:, or bars or slats or other equivalents may be substituted.

What I claim is 1. In a soda-fountain the combination with the chamber-casing, of a rail longitudinally at the bottom of the chamber and in front, and a series of plates I-shaped in vertical cross-section transversely of the rail and of greater height at the rear than at the front, substantially as explained.

2. In a soda-fountain the combination with a syrup-jar chamber, syrup containing and discharging apparatus, a rail in front at the bottom of said chamber, and a plurality of flanged plates having the top edges rising rearwardly, of a syrup-jar, lateral lips longitudinally beneath to engage the flanged plates, and a transverse stop likewise in the bottom to engage the rail at stated times, substantially as specified.

3. In a soda-fountain the combination with a syrup-jar chamber, a rail in front along the bottom, a plurality of plates transversely of the rail and within the chamber, and top and bottom flanges on said plates, of a movable syrup-jar, oppositely-disposed lips longitudinally beneath the jar-bottom to engage the flanges on the plates, and cam-surfaces on the jar to wipe upon the rail, substantially as set forth.

4. In a soda-water fountain having containing and dispensing apparatus, the combination with a syrup-jar chamber, a front rail therefor, and a plurality of flanged plates having their top edges obliquely inclined upwardly and rearwardly of the chamber, of a syrup-jar fitted with the following instrumentalities, longitudinal lips to engage the flanges on the plates, a transverse stop on the rear bottom portion, a pendent lip at the front, a cam-shaped surface behind said lip, and a groove intermediate between the lip and the cam, substantially as explained.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LUTHER W. PUFFEB.

IVitnesses:

HORACE S. BASSET, H. E. LODGE. 

